Things Ralph Waldo Emerson Said

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

"The ancestor of every action is a thought."

"None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone."


"People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character."

I think I would have liked him.

Third Chakra

Just had surgery and recovery is kind of slow. I feel as if my third chakra and been yanked from my body, thrown on the ground and stomped on. Then the surgeon, brushed off the bigger pieces of floor yuck and sewed the old chakra in upside down.

Maybe, I'll feel better if I stand on my head while chanting, "a little dirt never hurt anyone!"

...and then, again, maybe not.

Self Portrait

"Mirror, Mirror on the wall....who's the fairest of them all?"

What do you see when you look in the mirror? My friend Deb has a lighted magnifying mirror and looks into it everyday. She is truly beautiful to all of us who love her and know her. We see that long blonde hair, painted through the years of personal sun-worship. Her face is a beautiful tan, natural, definitely not out of a bottle. We see a gorgeous beach girl and she sees wrinkles and pores, very large pores! Well, of course she does, what else can lighted-15x-magnifying mirror show one but that!

Now my friend Mary couldn't care less about mirrors. If she passes one quite by accident, her gait would never change but she might sneak a little peak just to make sure she hasn't tucked her skirt into her underwear (again)during her last visit to the women's room.

All the rest of us probably fall somewhere in-between. On the days I wear make-up I might sit at the mirror to do it and during the day I will check to make sure their is no spinach or brocolli bits in my teeth. There have been days where I pop into the ladies room and while washing my hands I look up into the mirror and am shocked to see that my hair is going in 232 directions and there are two pairs of glasses on my head instead of one. When I berate my companions for having not told me what a site I was, they just shrug their shoulders. I guess my eccentric-artist-look has become so much a part of me that no one questions it.

Any way, This picture is my self portrait. "What!!!" you exclaim! "You, the mandala artist did not create a mandala as your portrait?"

No, I didn't! Why? Because this portrait painted itself and told me it was me when it let me put the paint brush down!

At my age one knows not to argue with a painting.

Ingrid's Mandala

So who is Ingrid? The following is from her website:

"Ingrid Kincaid is the vision, inspiration and heart of
Beyond This There Be Dragons
Creative Alchemy Coaching

She invites you to join her in exploring
creativity, possibility and adventure in your own life.

A unique blend of wise woman and mischievous imp,
Ingrid has a twinkle in her eye,
music in her voice and love in her heart.


You might see her dressed in black leather, riding her Harley,
her wild crazy curly hair flying in the wind.

Or you could find her leading sacred ritual in a candlelit room,
dressed in skins, her totemic tattoos alive and moving.

She is equally comfortable speaking in front of
groups of business professionals.

Ingrid is a licensed real estate broker and small business owner.
Her background in sales and marketing gives her a practical, pragmatic side that blends well with her creative and intuitive nature.

She loves snowfall in the mountains, cobbled streets in European villages,
fresh ground coffee, single malt Scotch and her children."

Ingrid is definitely a Renaissance Woman. Mostly she is a good friend!

They Knew

"he followed the sun; she followed the stars; in dreams they listened closely for the beginning of all things, for that was where they knew they'd find each other"
Brian Andreas, Story People

To be nobody.....but yourself

To be nobody -- but yourself -- in a world
which is doing its best night and day
to make you everybody else -- means to fight
the hardest battle which any human being
can fight and never stop fighting.

--e.e. cummings

Lighting Another Candle

Live

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning,

The Devil shudders and says... "Oh shit...she's awake!!"

Quilt Mandala

Quilts and Friends, they really are very much alike. The longer they are around the more comfortable they are, we love them even if they have a little worn spot or get kinda lumpy!

When you're sad or miserable it is fun to wrap them around you and feel safe, if you laugh so hard you blow wine out your nose they really don't mind....too much!

Though sometimes I will leave a quilt in the trunk of my car after a picnic at the park or a day at the beach and I would never do that to a friend....well....maybe Mike....

What Is Your Nature?

Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning.
One monk immediatelyscooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung.
He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in.
The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung.
The other monk asked him, "Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know its nature is to sting?"
"Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature."

The Song Of Your Soul Mandala

Do you have a friend that can sing it back to you?

Are you someone who can sing it back when your friend has forgotten the words?

Gather The Women Mandala

One heart at a time......one heart at a time.......

Sufi Teaching... a mandala of balance

"...Life is a place where it is necessary to move gently. Whether it be in thought, speech, or action, the rhythm must be controlled; the law of harmony must be observed in all that one does.
If there is anything that will bring satisfaction it is diving deep into Love, and then we shall realize that there is nothing which is not just; we shall never again say that anything is unjust. This is the point the wise reach, and they call it the culmination of wisdom. "

Zonia's Shield Mandala

Zonia.....what can I tell you about Zonia? She is a Tarot reader, quite accomplished. She is one of those women who is the ultimate master-of-self. She was in the middle of some personal trauma and drama at the time I interviewed her for her mandala portrait.

During the interview certain comments and statements made it very evident that she was a bridge between several different alternatives. Trauma and Drama have a way of ripping us from one dimension to another and peeling away the onion-layers away, shining the harsh light of reality on the very core of us. Zonia had a shield of protection built up and it was very difficult getting through. I created two mandalas for her, one for each world she had a foot in. Then I created this one for me, to remind me of the shield that Zonia had constructed to protect her from vulnerability.

Autumn Mandala

October is my favorite month of the year. The air is so crisp and clean, the smell of earth is yummy and reminds me of ancient and sacred things.

Today was 111 degrees. The smoke from the fires all around us turned the sun into a bright red ball in the sky for most of the day. Just walking out to check the mail almost melted me. When I went into the back to pick some plums and peaches off the trees for lunch the smoke, heat and floating ashes enveloped me. I felt like a hot dog on the grill.....all-be-it, a very plump weiner!!!

I'm longing for the first crisp, cool day, when I exchange little tank tops for a big comfy oversized sweater, my flip-flops for soft, worn sweatsocks and some nice warm tea.

Peaceful Warrior Mandala

My brother Mike is a Peaceful Warrior, at least now he is, when he was younger he was just a Warrior. He will challenge the biggest crowd to protect the tiniest or weakest soul. He is passionate about just causes and knows how to dodge the drama and just get down to the living.

He is a writer. His stories bring the old west to life as well as family history. Hey, Mikey, I love you, bro!

Gentle Soul Mandala

I love this mandala. I created it for gentle souls in my yard. There are fairies there, too, but they are more feisty than the Gentles. There are several that live in the front yard in the holly circle and sycamore tree.

One evening, I believe it was winter solstice, we conducted a wonderful ritual in the side yard of our old house in the country. We were surrounded by oaks and chamomile and mountain violets in the lawn. When we invited the elementals to join us the commotion was out-of-this world. Beings of every size and shape came hopping and running and flying.

One of the little ones came running to my side and stayed with me for several years. We sold the house and moved into town and he stayed with the old house. I miss him.

A Mandala for Sey

There is a saying, "A true friend knows the song of your soul and sings it back to you when you have forgotten the words." That is Steven. He is a wise man, a man of peace and harmony.

He is a writer and an author. I truly like him but he lives in New Hampshire...way to far to travel for discussions about life and living while pulling weeds in the herb garden.

Steven co-authored Adaptogens, "The definitive guide to adaptogenic herbs, formerly known as “rejuvenating herbs,” that counter the effects of stress on the body, support normal metabolic processes, and restore balance."

Pick it up, great resource.

I like exchanging thoughts with Steven, haven't connected in awhile.....as soon as things quiet down.........

Spirit Of Kitty

Kitty is a wonderful friend who has had so many challenges in her life and yet never fails to draw up the courage and wisdom to rise to the occasion. She and her husband and fighting the battle of their lives right now with the Sheriff's office. He is an ex-officer, hurt on the job and kicked to the curb.

She has the biggest heart this side of the Rockies!

Keep kicking Kitty! I love you.